Snow thrower

ABSTRACT

This snow thrower includes a chute deflector which may be selectively rotated and locked by a rack and pinion mechanism operated by a remotely controlled crank shaft. The rack and pinion mechanism includes a rack quadrant attached to one side of an inclined deflector and rotatable about an axis coincident with the axis of rotation of the deflector. The pinion is mounted at one end of the crank shaft and the rack is provided by an arcuate row of equally spaced apertures on the quadrant which are engageable by the pinion to rotate the deflector. Selected rack apertures are elongated to receive the pinion whereby to lock the deflector in position. The crank shaft is lengthwise springloaded to urge the pinion into the lock position.

United States Patent 1191 Ellis 1451 July 3,1973

[ SNOW THROWER Ray C. Ellis, Brentwood, Mo.

[73] Assignee: Atlas Tool 81. Manufacturing Company, St. Louis, Mo.

[22] Filed: Dec. 16, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 208,820

[75] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl 37/43 R, 302/34, 193/22,

74/422, 74/507 [51] Int. Cl E0lh 5/00, F16h H04 [58] Field of Search37/43, 53; 302/34,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,570,641 3/1971 Lefeuvre eta1 304/34 3,268,268 8/1966 Schalm 302/61 3,633,433 5/1970 Schurch 74/4223,575,057 4/1971 Kurowski 1 74/30 3,078,603 2/1963 Ertsgaard et al..37/43 E 3,239,954 3/1966 Brier 37/43 R 2,652,288 9/1953 Sands 302/603,466,767 9/1969 Rubin 37/43 R 3,313,386 4/1967 Schalm 193/22 2,735,1992/1956 Wanner et al.. 37/43 E 3,251,631 5/1966 Hennen 302/34 PrimaryExaminer-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-Eugene H. Eickholt IAttorney-Cohn, Powell & l-lind [5 7] ABSTRACT This snow thrower includesa chute deflector which may be selectively rotated and locked by a rackand pinion mechanism operated by a remotely controlled crank shaft. Therack and pinion mechanism includes a rack quadrant attached to one sideof an inclined deflector and rotatable about an axis coincident with theaxis of rotation of the deflector. The pinion is mounted at one end ofthe crank shaft and the rack is provided by an arcuate row of equallyspaced apertures on the quadrant which are engageable by the pinion torotate the deflector. Selected rack apertures are elongated to receivethe pinion whereby to lock the deflector in position. The crank shaft islengthwise spring-loaded to urge the pinion into the lock position.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates generally to a snow disposal device having a chute deflector andparticularly to a deflector provided with an angling and locking device.

Snow throwers of the type which employ a discharge nozzle frequentlyinclude some means of directional adjustment for the nozzle such as arotatable deflector. Rack and pinion devices are known by whichdeflectors are rotated and typical of such devices is one which providesa circular toothed collar which is attached to an upright portion of thedeflector, and is engaged by a rotating, cooperating pinion attached tothe base on which the deflector is journal mounted. In some instancesthe pinion is rotated remotely by an elongate handle and in others thedeflector is locked in place by a separate latch control engageable withthe pinion to preclude rotation thereof.

None of the angling deflectors which are known in the prior art combinea remote angling means with a remote locking means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This snow thrower is provided with a nozzledeflector which may be angled and locked in a desired position. Theangling and locking mechanisms are combined and may both be operated bymeans of a shaft controlled at a point remote from the deflector.

The combined angling and locking mechanism is simple in construction,relatively inexpensive to manufacture and easy to operate even byinexperienced users.

The snow thrower includes base means and deflector means rotativelymounted to the base means for discharging snow from the deflector nozzlein a selected direction. The rotating mechanism includes rack meansattached to the deflector means and pinion means carried by the basemeans. The pinion means is engageable with the rack means to rotate andlock the deflector means.

The rack means includes a first engagement means disposed about thecenter of rotation of the deflector means and a second engagement meansinwardly disposed of said first engagement means. Pinion engagement withthe first engagement means permits rotation of the rack means and pinionengagement with the second engagement means precludes rotation of therack means.

The rack means includes a quadrant bracket having a plurality ofarcuately disposed apertures engageable by the pinion teeth andproviding the first engagement means. Selected apertures are elongatedinwardly to provide a stop means engageable by the pinion teeth,adjacent material providing the second engagement means precludingrotation of the rack means. The pinion means includes a bracketpivotally connected to the quadrant bracket. The pinion means includes apinion, journal mounted to the pinion bracket by means of an elongateshaft having a cranked end. The shaft is movable along its ownlongitudinal axis to move the pinion between the rotating and lockingpositions engaging the first and second engagement means respectively.Resilient means in the form of a compression spring disposed about theshaft between the pinion bracket and the pinion urges the pinion intoengagement with the ends of the elongated slots thereby locking thepinion until the cranked shaft is pulled outwardly into a positionengaging the arcuate row of equally spaced apertures to permit rotationof the pinion and the deflector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. l is a perspective view of a snowthrower embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view illustrating the rack andpinion assembly;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the slotted rack quadrant; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary developed view of the rack and pinion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now by characters ofreference to the drawing and first to FIG. 1 it will be understood thatthe snow thrower includes a chassis generally indicated by numeral 10and providing a support for a motor 11, which drives a rear wheelassembly 12 and an auger assembly 13. The chassis is provided with arearwardly inclined pusher handle generally indicated by numeral 14.

The auger assembly 13 includes a horizontal, transversely disposed auger15 mounted within an auger housing 16. Front wheels 17 mounted to theauger housing cooperate with snow skids 18 to stabilize the snow throwerduring operation. The auger assembly 13 also includes an uprightdischarge chute generally indicated by numeral 20 in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thedischarge chute 20 includes a lower base portion 21, communieating withthe auger housing 16, and an upper deflector body portion 22. It will beunderstood that the base 21 is, in effect, fixed to the chassis l0 andthereby provides a base means for the relatively rotatable deflectorbody 22. As clearly indicated in FIG. 2 the deflector body is rotatableabout an axis 23 and a rack and pinion mechanism generally indicated bynumeral 24 provides a means of rotating said deflector body by remotecontrol.

The deflector body 22 is inclined and terminates in a nozzle 25 which,by means of the rack and pinion mechanism 24, may be directed toselected locations. The rack and pinion mechanism is lockable so thatthe nozzle 25 may be maintained in a desired location.

The rack and pinion mechanism includes a substantially horizontalquadrant bracket 26 constituting rack means, which is attached to thedeflector body 22 as by riveting. The quadrant bracket 26 is shown inenlarged detail in FIG. 3 and is provided with a row of equally spacedapertures disposed about a pivot center 30 having an axis substantiallycoincident with the axis of rotation 23 of the deflector portion 22. Therow of apertures provides a plurality of circular apertures 31 and aplurality of slotted apertures 32 arranged in pairs having axessubstantially parallel with a bisecting radius. As shown clearly in FIG.3 the circular apertures 31 and the slotted apertures 32 provide anarcuate row of pairs of side margin portions 33 providing side abutmentsdisposed on a circular arc indicated by numeral 35 and constituting afirst engagement means. The slotted apertures 32 provide, in addition, aplurality of end margin portions 34 providing end stop abutments. Theplate material 37 on the circular arc 36 and said end margins constitutea second engagement means.

The row of margin portions 33 is engageable in a first position by apinion indicated in FIG. 2 by numeral 40, which is journal mounted tothe upper portion 42 of a bracket 41. The pinion 40 is translationallymovable along its axis of rotation and as shown in FIG. 4 the material37 adjacent the intermittent row of slotted apertures 32 is selectivelyengageable by the teeth 39 of said pinion 40 in the second'position toprovide a locking means precluding rotation of said pinion and therebylocking the pinion 40 and holding the upper deflector nozzle 25 in aselected position. The generally upright support bracket 41 includes ahorizontal portion 43, which is pivotally connected by means of a pin 44to the substantially horizontal deflector bracket 26. The pinion 40 isfixedly attached to the end of an elongate shaft 45 which is journalmounted to the upper portion 42 of the upright bracket 41. The elongateshaft 45 is supported at its other end by a journal mounting 46 attachedto the snow thrower pusher handle 13 and is rotated by means of a crankhandle 47. A compression spring 48 constituting a resilient means isdisposed between the pinion 40 and the upper portion 42 of the bracket41. Unless opposite pressure is applied by an operator the compressionspring 48 urges the pinion 40 into engagement with the end margins ofthe slots 32 thereby locking the deflector body 22 in one of fiveselected positions 45 apart on the quadrant bracket 26. The pinion 40can be drawn rearwardly out of engagement with slots 32 and intoengagement with the continuous row of margin portions 33 by pullingoutwardly on the crank handle 47. Rotation of said crank handle rotatesthe shaft 45 and the pinion 40 which induces angular motion into thequadrant bracket 26 and hence the deflector body 22. The deflector body22 may be again locked in place by releasing the elongate shaft 45 at anappropriate position when the lower teeth of the pinion 40 are disposedadjacent to and are therefore receivable within another set ofassociated slots 32.

It is thought that the structural features and functional advantages ofthis device have become fully apparent from the foregoing description ofparts but for completeness of disclosure the operation will be brieflysummarized.

The spring-loaded rotating pinion 40 is journaled mounted to the uprightbracket 41 by means of the shaft 45 and hence has an axis of rotationwhich is fixed relative to the deflector base 21. The pinion bracket 41is pivoted to the rack quadrant bracket 26, which is connected to thedeflector body 22. Hence, the rack apertures 31 and 32 can be engaged bythe pinion teeth and rack 26 angularly rotated about the center ofrotation of said deflector body. The quadrant bracket 26 is attached tothe deflector body 22 and hence rotation of said bracket 26 about thepivot point 30, which is coincident with the axis of rotation 23 of theinclined deflector body 26, rotates the deflector nozzle 25. Theapertures and slots 31 and 32 provide an arcuate row of engagementmargins 33 which are complementary to the teeth of the pinion 40 and areengageable by said pinion teeth. When the crank handle 47 is drawntoward the operator and cranked, the deflector body 22 is rotates. Atspecific points on the quadrant, 45 apart in the preferred embodiment,slots 32 are provided which include forward portions capable ofreceiving the teeth of the pinion 40. The shaft 45 is spring-loaded toprovide a force urging the pinion 40 forwardly unless an opposite forceis applied by the operator. Thus,

when two teeth 38 of the pinion 40 are aligned with the pairs of slots32 as shown in FIG. 4 the pinion moves inwardly and locks the quadrantbracket 26 in position thereby precluding rotation of the deflector body22 because the flanking teeth 39 engage material 37 adjacent the slots32. It will be clear from a consideration of FIG. 1 that the operatorcan rotate the deflector nozzle 25 remotely with his left hand and thatthis operation can be carried out even when the snow thrower is inmotion.

1 claim as my invention: 1. In a snow thrower:

a. base means, b. deflector means rotatively mounted to the base means,0. rack means, (1. pinion means engageable with the rack means forrelative rotation of the rack means, and e. one of said latter two meansincluding:

1. a rotational center coincident with the rotational center of thedeflector means, 2. first engagement means engageable by the other ofsaid means to rotate the deflector means, and 3. second engagement meansspaced from the first engagement means and selectively engageable by theother of said means to lock the deflector means.

2. A snow thrower as defined in claim 1, in which: f. resilient meanscontrols the engagement of the pinion means with the rack means.

3. In a snow thrower:

a. base means, b. deflector means rotatively mounted to the base means,c. rack means fixedly attached to the deflector means and including: l.first engagement means disposed about the center of rotation of thedeflector means, and 2. second engagement means disposed about thecenter of rotation of the deflector means in spaced relation from saidfirst engagement means, and d. pinion means carried by the base meansand including a pinion engageable with the first engagement means in afirst position to rotate the deflector means and selectively movable toa second position engageable with the second engagement means to lockthe deflector means. 4. A snow thrower as defined in claim 3, in which:e. the pinion is shiftable about its axis of rotation for movementbetween the first and second positions. 5. A snow thrower as defined inclaim 4, in which: f. resilient means urges the pinion into the secondposition. Resilient means urges the pinion into the second position. 6.A snow thrower as defined in claim 3, in which: e. the rack meansincludes a quadrant bracket, and f. the first engagement means includesa row of substantially equally spaced pairs of side abutments arcuatelydisposed at substantially the same radius about the center of rotationof the deflector means and the second engagement means includes aplurality of plate portions engageable by the pinion means to precluderotation thereof. 7. A snow thrower as defined in claim 3, in which: e.the rack means includes a quadrant bracket, and

f. the first engagement means includes a row of substantially equallyspaced pairs of aperture portions defining substantially equally spacedpairs of margins arcuately disposed at substantially the same radiusfrom the center of rotation of the deflector means and the secondengagement means includes a plurality of aperture portions communicatingwith and spaced inwardly of selected aperture portions of the firstengagement means and defining end margins providing stop means for thepinion means and adjacent plate portions engageable by the pinion meansto preclude rotation thereof.

8. A snow thrower as defined in claim 3, in which:

and the pinion.

1. In a snow thrower: a. base means, b. deflector means rotativelymounted to the base means, c. rack means, d. pinion means engageablewith the rack means for relative rotation of the rack means, and e. oneof said latter two means including:
 1. a rotational center coincidentwith the rotational center of the deflector means,
 2. first engagementmeans engageable by the other of said means to rotate the deflectormeans, and
 3. second engagement means spaced from the first engagementmeans and selectively engageable by the other of said means to lock thedeflector means.
 2. first engagement means engageable by the other ofsaid means to rotate the deflector means, and
 2. A snow thrower asdefined in claim 1, in which: f. resilient means controls the engagementof the pinion means with the rack means.
 2. second engagement meansdisposed about the center of rotation of the deflector means in spacedrelation from said first engagement means, and d. pinion means carriedby the base means and including a pinion engageable with the firstengagement means in a first position to rotate the deflector means andselectively movable to a second position engageable with the secondengagement means to lock the deflector means.
 3. In a snow thrower: a.base means, b. deflector means rotatively mounted to the base means, c.rack means fixedly attached to the deflector means and including: 3.second engagement means spaced from the first engagement means andselectively engageable by the other of said means to lock the deflectormeans.
 4. A snow thrower as defined in claim 3, in which: e. the pinionis shiftable about its axis of rotation for movement between the firstand second positions.
 5. A snow thrower as defined in claim 4, in which:f. resilient means urges the pinion into the second position. RESILIENTMEANS URGES THE PINION INTO THE SECOND POSITION.
 6. A snow thrower asdefined in claim 3, in which: e. the rack means includes a quadrantbracket, and f. the first engagement means includes a row ofsubstantially equally spaced pairs of side abutments arcuately disposedat substantially the same radius about the center of rotation of thedeflector means and the second engagement means includes a plurality ofplate portions engageable by the pinion means to preclude rotationthereof.
 7. A snow thrower as defined in claim 3, in which: e. the rackmeans includes a quadrant bracket, and f. the first engagement meansincludes a row of substantially equally spaced pairs of apertureportions defining substantially equally spaced pairs of marginsarcuately disposed at substantially the same radius from the center ofrotation of the deflector means and the second engagement means includesa plurality of aperture portions communicating with and spaced inwardlyof selected aperture portions of the first engagement means and definingend margins providing stop means for the pinion means and adjacent plateportions engageable by the pinion means to preclude rotation thereof. 8.A snow thrower as defined in claim 3, in which: e. the rack meansincludes a bracket attached to the deflector means, and f. the pinionmeans includes a bracket attached to the base means and pivotallyconnected to the rack bracket.
 9. A snow thrower as defined in claim 8,in which: h. the pinion means includes an elongate shaft having acranked remote end for rotating the pinion.
 10. A snow thrower asdefined in claim 8, in which: i. the pinion includes a compressionspring coaxially disposed on said shaft between the pinion bracket andthe pinion.